Blade for a flail type brush cutting machine

ABSTRACT

A blade for a flail type brush cutting machine. The blade is torch cut or cast from thick metal in a generally L shape to have any desired angle between its stem and floor, in the preferred embodiment the angle is ninety degrees to insure a close cut of brush. The thicker metal will cut thicker brush. A resharpenable cutting edge is also torch cut or cast on the floor of the blade making the cutting edge of the blade resharpenable and renewable by repeat torch cutting. An elliptically shaped attaching hole is also torch cut or cast in the stem of the blade for attaching the blade to a hanger to then be attached to the shaft of the flail cutter. This attaching hole can also be torch cut or cast into any desired shape. A method of providing a blade for a flail type brush cutting machine is also disclosed.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/605,653 now U.S. Pat. No.5,570,571 filed Feb. 22, 1996.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to brush cutting machines and morespecifically to a blade for a flail type brush cutting machine.

In general, a flail type brush cutting machine is a tractor having aflail cutter attachment attached to the front of the tractor. The flailcutter attachment is generally a shaft member having a plurality ofreceiving holes on its outside perimeter for receiving a plurality ofhangers, a pair of hangers each holding a pair of blades. As the shaftis carried over the ground, the blades slash into the brush to be cut.Typically, in the prior art, the blades used on the flail cutter are anobtuse angled member having a stem; with an attaching hole whichattaches to a hanger, and a floor; angled at greater than ninety degreesfrom the stem, the floor having a cutting edge for cutting brush as theblades are thrust into the brush as the shaft rotates near the ground.Generally, the prior art blades are formed from a relatively thin,flexible metal cut into strips and bent to form the obtuse angle. Thesethin metal strips have poor integrity due to the forced bend in thisrelatively thin metal, resulting in excessive breakage of the bladeswith resultant down time required to change the blades. The prior artblades are not bent to have a full right angle between the stem and thefloor of the blade because to do so would reduce the integrity of theblade even more.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,691,262 to Swertfeger discloses a brush clearing machinewith flails that are cast. The flail blades are chisel shaped and havean angle other than 90 degrees.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,812,701 to Weaver, Jr. discloses a rotary hoe with teeththat are forged from angled stock.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,938,326 to Lundell discloses a hay chopper havingradially positioned members for chopping and gathering hay.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,177,640 to Mott, Jr. discloses a mower bladeconstruction with reversible and resharpenable blades. Ellipticalmounting holes are used to attach the blades to a link which attaches toa roller. The blades are bent to form and thus would be vulnerable tobreakage.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,834 to Lambert et.al. discloses a synchronized flailthat uses strengthened flail blades.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,642 to Rasmussen discloses a welded replacementgrouser bar for an agricultural implement.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,734 to Mills discloses a bottom blade for a grasscutting unit which is formed by bending a steel mounting plate to form alip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome problems inherent in time prior art there has beendevised by the present invention all improved blade for a flail typebrush cutting machine. In the present invention, the blade, itsattaching hole in the stem for attaching the blade to a hanger, and thecutting edge of the blade are all torch cut from a thicker sheet ofmetal into any configuration desired. It is also within the spirit andscope of the invention to cast the blade into any desired configuration.In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stem of theblade and the floor of the blade are torch cut as a one piece memberhaving a ninety degree angle between them. In this way, a stronger bladeis formed having the optimum angle for cutting the brush closely. Thus,without a forced bend in the metal of the blade, there is increasedintegrity in the blade with less breakage and consequent down time. Theblade of the present invention also cuts heavier brush because of itsthicker metal and is resharpenable and renewable also because of thethicker metal and the cutting edge formed by the torch cut process. Thecutting edge of the present blade can be re-cut with a torch after thecutting edge has dulled, thus reducing replacement costs for dulledblades as well as replacement costs from breakage of the blade. Byre-cutting the cutting edge of the blade, any nicks or other flaws thatmay effect the cutting efficiency of the blade are eliminated. Inoperation, two blades are attached back to back onto time rotating flailcutter. It is therefore also, within the spirit and scope of theinvention to torch cut or cast two or more blades together in a onepiece integral unit.

It is therefore an object and advantage of the present blade for a flailtype brush cutting machine to provide a blade which cuts brush closely.

It is another object and advantage of the present blade for a flail typebrush cutting machine to provide a blade with high integrity and lowbreakage characteristics.

It is yet another object and advantage of the present blade for a flailtype brush cutting machine to provide a blade with a resharpenable andrenewable cutting edge to thereby reduce replacement costs, and improvethe efficiency of the blade.

It is still yet another object and advantage of the present blade for aflail type brush cutting machine to provide a blade which cuts heavybrush due to its heavier metal composition.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent with areview of the following drawings and from a study of the specificationportion hereinafter describing the preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing how the blade of the presentinvention is positioned on the flail cutter of an existing cuttingmachine.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the prior art showing how prior artblades are typically formed to have an obtuse angle formed between thestem of the blade and the floor of the blade.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention showing the right angle formed between the stem of theblade and the floor of the blade and showing an elliptical attachinghole in the stem of the blade.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the present invention also showingthe right angle formed between the stem of the blade and the floor ofthe blade.

FIG. 5 is a side plan view showing low the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is torch cut from a thicker metal into any desiredconfiguration.

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view showing how the flail blades of thepresent invention are attached to an existing flail cutter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now in general to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 ofthe drawings, there is shown a front perspective view showing how theblade of the present invention is positioned on a conventional flailcutter of an existing brush cutting machine. In FIG. 1 the brush cuttingmachine is shown generally by the number 10 and the flail cutter isshown generally by the number 12. It can be seen in FIG. 1 that theconventional flail cutter 12 generally comprises a shaft 14 having aplurality of holes 16 positioned through the outer surface 18 of theshaft 14. This plurality of holes 16 holds a plurality of tabs orhangers 20, the hangers 20 in turn each holding blades 22 of the presentinvention. These hangers 20 are positioned on the shaft 14 in pairs andhold two blades 22 back to back. In FIGS. 1 and 3, it can be seen thatthe blade 22 of the present invention is a generally L-shaped membercomprising a stem 24 and a floor 26, the blades 22 being attached to ahanger 20 by the attaching means 28 in the form of a hole 30 in the stem24 of the blade 22. In FIG. 1 showing a conventional flail cutter, itcan be seen that the hangers 20 are each welded onto the shaft 14 inpairs. The hangers 20 provide a means for attaching the blades 22 to theshaft 14 as will be shown and described in greater detail with referenceto FIG. 6. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, theblade 22 is torch cut such that there is a ninety degree angle 32between the stem 24 and floor 26 of the blade 22. The floor 26 of theblade 22 carries the cutting edge 34 of the blade 22; thus the floor 26and the cutting edge 34 of the blade 22 are presented parallel to theground 36 and the brush 38 to be cut, thereby cutting the brush 38evenly and close to the ground 36.

The advantage of the right angle 32 configuration of the present bladebecomes clear when the right angle 32 configuration of the present bladeas shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is compared to the obtuse angle 40configuration of the prior art blade 42 as shown in FIG. 2. The priorart blade 42 for a flail cutter as shown in FIG. 2 is generally formedby strips cut out of a relatively thin piece of metal. These strips arethen bent to form the obtuse angle 40 between the stem 44 and floor 46of the prior art blade 42. By forcing a bend in the metal, the prior artblade 42 thus lacks integrity and is easily broken or bent entirely outof useable shape upon hitting a rock or other hard object. It can alsobe seen in FIG. 2 that the prior art blade is bent to have an obtuseangle 40 between its stem 44 and floor 46 since to bend it further intothe right angle configuration 32 of the blade 22 of the presentinvention would only reduce the already poor integrity of the prior artblade 42 even more. Thus, it can be seen that the prior art blade 42 iscaused to be angled up and away from the ground 36 and the brush 38 tobe cut thereby causing an uneven and not close cut of the brush 38. Bycontrast, the blade 22 of the present invention is formed by torchcutting the blade 22, cutting edge 34 and attaching hole 30 from athicker piece of metal. In this way, any desired angle can be cutbetween the stem 24 and floor 26 of the blade 22; any desiredconfiguration can be formed for the attaching means 28 in the form of anattaching hole 30 in the stem 24 of the blade 22; and any desiredcutting edge 34 can be formed. It is also within the spirit and scope ofthe invention to cast the blade 22, to have any desired angle betweenthe stem 22 and floor 26 of the blade, any desired configuration for theattaching means 28 in the form of an attaching hole 30 in the stem ofthe blade 22; and any desired cutting edge 34 can also be formed bycasting.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is shown a sideperspective view of the present invention. It can be seen in thepreferred embodiment of FIG. 3 that a ninety degree angle 32 is formedbetween the stem 24 and floor 26 of the blade 22 of the presentinvention. This ninety degree angle 32 is the most beneficial forachieving a close cut of the brush 38. The ninety degree angle 32 cut istherefore preferred for airports, golf courses and the like. It is,however, within the spirit and scope of the invention to have anydesired angle between the stem 24 and floor 26 of the blade 22. Forexample, an angle of greater than ninety degrees can be used to cutheavier brush where a less close cut is desired. The preferred angle ofninety degrees 32 will still cut the heaviest of brush 38, however, andwill cut the brush 38 closest to the ground 36. It can be seen furtherin FIG. 3 that on the floor 26 of the blade 22 there is also torch cutthe cutting edge 34 of the blade 22. Because of the torch cut process bywhich the blade 22 is formed, the cutting edge 34 of the blade 22 canalso be cut to any configuration desired. Also, because the cutting edge34 is torch cut from a thicker metal, the cutting edge 34 of the presentflail blade 22 is resharpenable or more specifically completelyrenewable. By re-torch cutting the blade 22, the cutting edge 34 of theblade 22 becomes completely renewable. In removing part of the materialof the cutting edge 34 by torch cutting a new cutting edge, any nicks orother missing chunks of metal in the existing cutting edge 34 areremoved. This is an obvious advantage over the prior art which if it isresharpenable, it only resharpens the existing cutting edge with agrinder or other similar means, leaving the cutting edge as it is withall nicks and other cut reducing flaws intact. Renewing the blade 22 ofthe present invention is accomplished by removing the dull blade 22,again torch cutting a new cutting edge 34 and returning the blade 22 tothe flail cutter 12. This represents a distinct advantage over the priorart blade 42 which must be replaced after it is dulled with associatedmaintenance time and expense. Also seen in FIG. 3 is the attaching means28 in the form of an attaching hole 30 on the stem 24 of the blade 22for attaching the blade 22 onto a hanger 20 which in turn attaches tothe shaft 14 of the flail cutter 12 as seen in FIG. 1. There are aplurality of hangers 20 welded to the shaft 14. These hangers 20 arepositioned on the shaft 14 in pairs and each pair of hangers 48 holdstwo blades 22 back to back, so that each of the two blades 22 can, bereversed, to present a new cutting edge 34'. These pairs of hangers 48are spaced an equal distance apart between rows 50 and are staggeredintermittently as between columns 52. Each pair of hangers 48 has a hole54 therethrough for receiving a bolt 56 which in turn is insertedthrough a C-ring 58 and the pair of hangers 48 as seen in FIG. 6. TheC-rings 58 each carry a pair of blades 22 positioned back to back. Inthe preferred embodiment of the present invention, the attaching means28 in the form of an attaching hole 30 in the blade 22 for attaching theblade 22 to the C-ring 58 is an elliptical shape 60 to provide more roomfor the blade 22 to slide on the ring portion 62 of the hanger 20. Anelliptical shape 60 for the attaching hole 30 which attaches the blade22 to the flail cutter 12, allows the blade 22 to swing back and forthmore readily as it swings by the brush 38 to be cut. With more movementof the blade 22 accomplished in this way a more certain cut of the brush38 is assured. Since the attaching hole 30 part of the blade 22 is alsotorch cut, it too can be cut to any shape desired. It is therefore, alsowithin the spirit and scope of the invention to form the attaching hole30 into any desired shape. For example, a round hole 63 would be used toaccomodate existing flail cutters 12 that use a round attaching hole 63for attaching the blade 22 to the hanger 20 as seen in FIG. 7. Since, inoperation, the blades 22 are positioned back to back in pairs it is alsowithin the spirit and scope of the invention to torch cut or cast two ormore blades 22 together in a one piece integral unit.

It can be seen therefore in FIG. 5 that to produce the blade 22 of thepresent invention is a simple and inexpensive procedure. In practice,the blades 22 of the present invention are very simply torch cut from asheet of one and one half inch metal, although any suitable width andtype of metal can be used. In the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention the blade 22 formed is at least 5/16 inch thick, thusproviding a thicker and more substantial blade capable of cuttingthicker and heavier brush. Also, in the preferred embodiment, with aninety degree angle 32 cut between the stem 24 and floor 26 of the blade22, a number of blades 22 are easily cut from the same piece of metal.Also, as seen in FIG. 5, the back 64 of one blade 66 provides the front68 for the next blade 70 to be cut thereby assuring little waste and aminimum of torch cuts to provide the most blades 22.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the applicant's inventionprovides an improved blade for a flail type brush cutting machine thatis formed of heavy metal and thereby cuts heavier brush; the bladeprovides a ninety degree angle between the stem and the floor of theblade to insure a close cut of the brush with greater integrity and lessbreakage of the blade; a resharpenable and renewable cutting edge on theblade is provided to reduce maintenance and replacement costs andimprove the efficiency of the blade; and an attaching means in the formof an attaching hole for attaching the blade to a hanger is provided inany desired shape for easy and efficient attachment of the blade to theflail cutter. There has been accomplished by the applicant's inventionall of the objects and advantages of the invention. Nevertheless,variation in the structure of the invention and the arrangement of thevarious parts are within the spirit and scope of the applicant'sinvention. The embodiments given have been given only by way ofillustration and the applicant is not to be limited to the embodimentsshown and described.

Having described my invention, I claim:
 1. A method for producing ablade for a flail brush cutting machine comprising the steps of:a)providing a metal member; b) torch cutting the metal member to form afloor of the blade extending generally horizontally in parallelrelationship to a ground surface, the floor having a cutting edge; c)further torch cutting the metal member to form a stem of the bladeintegral with the floor of the blade, the stem extending generallyvertically at any angle from the floor of the blade, the stem having anattaching means for attaching the blade to a flail cutter; and wherebythe cutting edge on the floor of the blade is disposed on the same planeand even with the brush to be cut, and whereby more than one blade maybe integrally formed together in a one piece unit by the torch cutprocess.
 2. The method for producing a blade for a flail cutting machineas defined in claim 1 wherein:the attaching means is a hole in the stemof the blade for attaching the blade to a flail cutter.
 3. The methodfor producing a blade for a flail cutting machine as defined in claim 1wherein the angle between the stem and floor of the blade is less thanone hundred eight degrees.
 4. The method for producing a blade for afrail brush cutting machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising thestep of:d) re-torch cutting the cutting edge on the floor of the bladeto a cutting edge different than the cutting edge originally torch cut.5. The method for producing a blade for a flail brush cutting machine asdefined in claim 1 wherein:the attaching hole in the stem of the bladeis generally elliptical; and, whereby the blade can easily slide on ahanger to thereby flail freely.
 6. The method for producing a blade fora flail brush cutting machine as defined in claim 2 wherein:theattaching hole in the stem is generally circular.
 7. The method forproducing a blade for a flail brush cutting machine as defined in claim5 further comprising the step of:torch cutting the generally ellipticalhole in the stem.
 8. The method for producing a blade for a flail brushcutting machine as defined in claim 2 further comprising the stepof:torch cutting the generally circular hole in the stem.
 9. The methodfor producing a blade for a flail brush cutting machine as defined inclaim 1 wherein the stem and floor are torch cut to form a blade that isat least 5/16 inch thick.
 10. The method for producing a blade for aflail brush cutting machine as defined in claim 1 further comprising thestep of:a) re-torch cutting the edge on the floor of the blade; wherebythe cutting edge is resharpenable and renewable by repeat torch cutting.11. A method for producing a blade for a flail brush cutting machinecomprising the steps of:a) providing a metal member; b) casting themetal member to form a floor of the blade extending generallyhorizontally in parallel relationship to a ground surface, the floorhaving a cutting edge; c) further casting the metal member to form astem of the blade integral with the floor of the blade, the stemextending generally at a 90degree angle from the floor of the blade, thestem having an attaching means for attaching the blade to a flailcutter; and whereby the cutting edge on the floor of the blade isdisposed on the same plane and even with the brush to be cut, andwhereby more than one blade may be integrally formed together in a onepiece unit by the cast process.